Jewellery element and chain

ABSTRACT

Two rotating parts ( 11, 15 ) rotatably fitting on an axle ( 10 ) which passes through the opening ( 9 ) surrounded by the frame ( 4 ) are provided in a rectangular frame ( 4 ), the first rotating part ( 11 ) surrounding the elongated second rotating part ( 15 ) in a fork-like manner. The first rotating part ( 11 ) and the second rotating part ( 15 ) may each assume two fixed positions 180° apart, in which they are locked to the frame or to the first rotating part ( 11 ). By turning the rotating parts ( 11, 15 ), the outside of the jewellery element ( 2 ) can be changed. Jewellery elements can also be combined to form chains, which can be used, for example, as watch straps.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a jewellery element and a chain which is formed from a plurality of jewellery elements according to the invention and which, for example, can be worn as an arm band or used as a watch strap.

PRIOR ART

Known jewellery elements of the generic type usually have no movable parts. Their appearance is therefore not variable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide jewellery elements of the generic type such that, with a suitable design, their appearance can be changed by the wearer. This object is achieved by the features in the characterizing clause of claim 1.

The advantages of the invention are in particular that rotating parts which can be designed or decorated differently on different sides can optionally be brought into two or more rotary positions in which they turn one or other side to the visible outside. The possible modifications are particularly substantial if each jewellery element has at least two rotating elements. They are even more pronounced in the case of chains comprising jewellery elements according to the invention, where very different patterns can be produced by different settings of the rotating parts thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figures which represent only one embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a watch having a chain of jewellery elements according to the invention which serves as a watch strap, rotating elements thereof being present in intermediate positions,

FIG. 2 shows an individual jewellery element of the chain of FIG. 1 on a larger scale,

FIG. 3 a shows a plan view of the jewellery element of FIG. 2,

FIG. 3 b shows a side view of the jewellery element of FIG. 2,

FIG. 3 c shows a front view of the jewellery element of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 a shows a plan view of the jewellery element of FIG. 2, except that the rotating elements are present in fixed positions,

FIG. 4 b shows a section along B-B in FIG. 4 a,

FIG. 4 c shows a section corresponding to C-C in FIG. 4 a and

FIG. 4 d shows a section corresponding to D-D in FIG. 4 a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The jewellery element according to the invention of FIG. 2 is formed in such a way that it is suitable as a chain link for a watch strap, as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a watch 1 and two chain sections fastened to the sides thereof and comprising in each case four jewellery elements 2, to the ends of which complementary parts of a closure 3 are fastened.

The jewellery element 2 has a rectangular frame 4 which consists of a first part which comprises a first front strip 5 and two side strips 6, 7 adjacent to it, and a second part which forms a second front strip 8 opposite the first front strip 5. Said front strip 8 is screwed or otherwise removably connected to the ends of the two side strips 6, 7.

The frame 4 surrounds a rectangular opening 9 through which passes an axle 10 which is arranged centrally between the side strips 6, 7 and parallel to them and the continuation of which passes at both ends through continuous holes in the front strips 8 and is thus anchored in the frame 3. Said axle consists of two parts screwed together and is removable. The axle 10 carries a first rotating part 11 which comprises a base 12 which is adjacent to the first front strip 5 and from which two extensions 13, 14 which are a distance apart laterally project up to the second front strip 8. In the recess formed between them, an elongated second rotating part 15 which likewise extends up to the second front strip 8 and is surrounded in a fork-like manner by the first rotating part 11 is arranged.

The second rotating part 15 has a longitudinal hole which continues in a hole through the base 12. The holes receive the axle 10 so that the rotating parts 11, 15 fit rotatably thereon. The lateral surfaces of the first rotating part 11 are in the form of sectors of the lateral surface of a cylinder, the axis of which coincides with the axle 10. The inner surfaces of the lateral strips 6, 7 are formed complementary thereto. Accordingly, the lateral surfaces of the second rotating part 15, too, are cylinder lateral sectors and the inner surfaces of the extensions 13, 14 are complementary thereto (cf. FIG. 4 b,d). The front surfaces, which face the front strips 5, 8 and the rotating parts 11, 15, are in each case flat and perpendicular to the axle 10.

While the first rotating part 11 and the second rotating part 15 are shown in intermediate positions in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 a-c for greater clarity of the structure of the jewellery element 2, they are, when the jewellery element 2 is worn, usually set to fixed positions (cf. FIG. 4 a,b,d) in which they are fixed by snap locks. For this purpose, the first rotating part 11 has, at the end of the extension 14, a ball catch 16 which projects beyond its front surface and can be pushed back behind the front surface against the force of a pressure spring. The second front strip 8 has two blind holes 17, 18 into which the ball catch 16 can snap. In the fixed position shown in FIG. 4 a,b,d, the ball catch 16 has snapped into the blind hole 18. The first rotating part 11 can, however, be rotated through 180° into a second fixed position in which the ball catch 16 has snapped into the blind hole 17.

In a completely corresponding manner, the second rotating part 15 carries a ball catch which projects beyond its front surface and can snap into two blind holes in the inner surface of the base 12 so that the second rotating part 15, together with the first rotating part 11, can be locked in two fixed positions which are 180° apart. If the two rotating parts 11, 15 are in fixed positions, the first rotating part 11 is accordingly directly locked to the frame 4, and the second rotating part 15 is locked indirectly via the first rotating part 11, to which it is directly locked. The rotating parts 11, 15 fill the opening 9 completely (cf. FIG. 4 a,b,d) and form, on the outside of the jewellery element 2, a smooth surface which has the shape of a cylinder lateral sector. The fork-like surrounding of the second rotating part 15 by the first rotating part 11 is advantageous with regard to both the aesthetic design possibilities and the simplicity and mechanical stability; moreover, the jewellery element can be easily changed owing to this design.

To enable the jewellery elements 2 to be connected in pairs and a chain or a chain section to be assembled from them, the first lateral strip 6 has in each case, on the outside, a cylindrical central receptacle 19 having a continuous longitudinal hole, while the second lateral strip 7 has two lateral receptacles 20, 21 which are just more than the length of the central receptacle 19 apart and are otherwise correspondingly formed. In each case the central receptacle of a further jewellery element 2 can be pushed between said lateral receptacles (FIG. 1) and the connection between the jewellery elements can be fixed by a pin-like connecting axle 22 which is pushed into the holes which are made to coincide. The connection permits limited mutual rotation of the connected jewellery elements about the connecting axle 22, which is parallel to the axles 10 of the adjacent jewellery elements 2.

Numerous modifications of the jewellery element described are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the locking devices can in each case be arranged on the opposite front surface so that, for example, the second rotating element can likewise be directly locked to the frame or to both. It is also possible to provide more than two fixed positions, for example three or four, which follow one another, for example, at an interval of 120° or 90°. The rotating elements can also be formed in a manner other than that described. The shape of the jewellery element may differ; for example it may be circular with correspondingly formed rotating elements. It is also possible to provide only one rotating element or more than two rotating elements. Finally, the jewellery element can also be provided for being worn individually, the receptacles 19, 20, 21 being dispensed with. It can then, for example, be fastened by means of a pin or clasp to an article of clothing or be worn on a chain around the neck or on a finger ring or—in combination with a suitable fastening device—be used as an ear ornament. Chains formed from jewellery elements according to the invention are suitable not only as watch straps but also as arm bands or neck bands.

As a rule, the surface sections of the rotating elements which can be rotated to the outside will be differently formed, for example set with gemstones in different patterns or engraved or coated so that the appearance of the jewellery element can be modified by turning said rotating elements. It may also be formed in such a way that the outside can, for example, be designed to be simpler or richer depending on the occasion. Chains of jewellery elements in which the appearance of the individual jewellery element can be varied independently offer particularly exciting possibilities, with the result that a large number of potential combinations is opened up.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   1 Watch -   2 Jewellery element -   3 Closure -   4 Frame -   5 First front strip -   6, 7 Lateral strips -   8 Second front strip -   9 Opening -   10 Axle -   11 First rotating part -   12 Base -   13, 14 Extensions -   15 Second rotating part -   16 Ball catch -   17, 18 Blind holes -   19 Central receptacle -   20, 21 Lateral receptacles -   22 Connecting axle 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A jewellery element, comprising: a frame which surrounds an opening; an axle which passes through the opening and is anchored at both ends in the frame; and at least one rotating part arranged on said axle so as to be rotatable about said axle.
 12. The jewellery element according to claim 11, wherein the at least one rotating part has a hole which receives the axle.
 13. The jewellery element according to claim 11, wherein the at least one rotating part can be indirectly or directly locked to the frame in at least two fixed positions by snapping in.
 14. The jewellery element according to claim 11, having at least two rotating parts rotatable independently of one another, so that a first rotating part at least partly surrounds a second rotating part.
 15. The jewellery element according to claim 14, wherein the first rotating part has a base which is adjacent to a first section of the frame and from which two extensions which are a distance apart laterally project towards a second section of the frame which is opposite the first section, and the second rotating part, adjacent to the second section of the frame, is located between the extensions, while the axle projects through the base of the first rotating part and through the second rotating part.
 16. The jewellery element according to claim 11, wherein the frame is substantially rectangular.
 17. The jewellery element according to claim 13, wherein the opening of the frame is completely filled by the at least one rotating element when each rotating element is in a fixed position.
 18. A jewellery chain having a plurality of successive jewellery elements according to claim 14, wherein said jewellery elements are connected to one another in pairs.
 19. The jewellery chain according to claim 18, wherein the connected jewellery elements can be rotated relative to one another to a limited extent in each case about parallel connecting axles.
 20. The jewellery chain according to claim 19, wherein the axle of each of the jewellery elements is parallel to the connecting axles. 